Explore and Venture Into the Unknown With Josh Bernstein, Plunge Into the World's Most Fascinating Places

World Premiere HD Original Series Airs Mondays, Beginning August 18 at 10pm ET/PT

SILVER SPRING, Md., July 10 -- It's a thrill ride filled with adventure and mystery, ancient riddles and modern day issues as international explorer Josh Bernstein journeys on an epic quest in INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH JOSH BERNSTEIN premiering Monday, August 18 at 10 pm ET/PT on Discovery Channel.

Global traveler, explorer, and educator Josh Bernstein has a voracious appetite for knowledge and a strong desire to do whatever it takes to explore the world's hidden treasures, mysteries and natural wonders. From uncovering secret mummification rituals in the jungles of Papua New Guinea to exploring the ancient wealth and wonder of Timbuktu; from investigating a radical theory regarding elephant attacks in East Africa to revealing the true lifestyle and status of gladiators in the Roman Empire, no location is too remote, no culture too exotic, no goal too ambitious.

"If there ever was a host that embodied the Discovery brand, it's Josh," said Discovery President and General Manager John Ford. "He has that same insatiable curiosity and zest for knowledge that our viewers share. The series is a complete 360 degree immersion of adventure and surprise."

Travel with Bernstein across oceans, continents and time zones on a quest for answers. From current headlines to ancient lore, grab your bags and set off for adventure.

Topics covered include:

-- In the past, the Anga people of Papua New Guinea revered their ancestors so deeply that they mummified their dead and refused to bury them. But this ritual hasn't been performed in over a half-century and the skills of this ancient rite may soon be lost forever. In a race against time, Josh lives with one of the most primitive tribes on Earth and becomes one of the first Westerners to ever witness their secret mummification process.

-- A deadly conflict between elephants and humans is escalating across Africa. Josh goes on the trail of elephants that are attacking and killing humans in record numbers to find out why these gentle giants have turned into killers and to investigate a compelling new theory that claims to know the answer.

-- For millennia, people have assumed that because we live on Earth, life must have started here. But scientists are now seriously considering that life may have come here from Mars, having navigated the hazards of deep space to take up residence on Earth. Josh gains access to places only NASA scientists are typically allowed on his quest through the American West for the true story.

-- The Roman Gladiator participated in history's most deadly sport, but does the Hollywood portrayal of Gladiators bear any resemblance to the truth? Were they slaves or celebrities? What was their training and everyday home life like? Josh travels the former Roman Empire from Italy to Turkey to Tunisia to find out.

-- For seven centuries the fierce Chachapoya tribe ruled the mountains of northern Peru from their hilltop fortress ... then, in the 1500s, the tribe suddenly vanished from history. Josh goes deep into the Peruvian Andes by foot and by horse to investigate how one of South America's deadliest tribes could have disappeared in an instant.

-- In 14th century Africa, a legend that Timbuktu was a 'City of Gold' began to spread across the world - travel with Josh across West Africa, into the Sahara desert, and to the famous city itself on a quest to find the gold of legend and determine if the myth was ever really true.

-- Did the flood of Genesis really happen? Was there an actual ark or a man called Noah? Josh travels throughout Armenia, Israel, Sicily and Cyprus to investigate a compelling new theory about the truth behind this extraordinary story.

-- How did one man almost destroy one of the greatest empires on earth? Josh is on a quest across Lower and Upper Egypt to explore how the heretical Pharaoh Akhenaten left his son, King Tut, with a country and a dynasty that was on the verge of destruction.

Josh Bernstein

Explorer, author and wilderness educator Josh Bernstein officially joined Discovery Channel in April 2007 to host and produce specials and series that explore and celebrate the wonders of the planet, from the ancient mysteries of archaeology to the modern quests of science.

Bernstein has almost 20 years of wilderness survival experience and environmental advocacy under his belt. Since 1997, he has served as president & CEO of BOSS, the Boulder Outdoor Survival School, the oldest and largest survival school in the world.

In addition to his work for several environmental organizations, Bernstein is a professional photographer and an active member of The Explorers Club, The Royal Geographical Society, and The American Museum of Natural History.

When not traveling, Bernstein lives between a yurt in Southern Utah and an apartment in New York City. Born and raised in New York City, he is a graduate of Cornell University, majoring in Anthropology and Psychology.

INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH JOSH BERNSTEIN is produced for Discovery Channel by Darlow Smithson. Bernadette McDaid is executive producer for Darlow Smithson. Beth Dietrich is the executive producer for Discovery Channel. Josh Bernstein is also an executive producer of the series.

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications is the world's number-one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. Discovery Communications is owned by Discovery Holding Company (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB), Advance/Newhouse Communications and John S. Hendricks, Discovery's founder and chairman. For more information, please visit http://www.discoverycommunications.com.